As Nafni, warrior of Durin's household, we are to speak first with Durin himself. The throne-hall is vast and wonderfully decorated.
After walking the length of this magnificent hall, we meet the ruler of Khazad-Dum, Durin himself.
Durin explains that his son Nain has arrived, with a delegation of the elves who he wishes to impress with the magnificence of Khazad-Dum.
With this, we all journey to the Shadowed Cave, where a breakthrough into a new supply of mithril is imminent.
Before it is safe to proceed, some troublesome cave-claws must be eliminated. This task falls to Nafni of course.
Finally it is safe to proceed. The breakthrough is almost complete, and Nafni will have the privilege of being the first to dig through.
But maybe that was a big mistake!
Aie, a balrog! Durin heroically throws himself at the creature, that his elven guests may escape. At the same time, though, he commands you to take his son Nain to safety.
Well, this was supposed to be a quest walkthrough, and this is seemingly the hardest part. It shouldn't be so, but we do read people on forums saying, "I can't complete the Fall of Moria quest. Every time I attack the balrog I die!"
Let's review the available information. The balrog is huge; it is wreathed with fire; it has glowing red eyes and big teeth; it has just stomped two heroic dwarves into the ground; you have been ordered to keep out of the fight and stay alive. These features of the situation are the clues you need to survive.
Certainly it looks for a while as if things are going badly. The entrance to the cave you are in has become blocked by fallen rocks. The brilliance of this quest is that, although you don't have to do anything at this point, doing nothing seems almost unbearable as Durin's Bane stalks towards you!
But suddenly the stomping of those great feet disturbs the collapsed rock further, and flight is possible!
As Nafni, we escape to fight another day, along with Dain and the elves. None can stand against the terror that is now called Durin's Bane, but this doesn't stop them arguing about it!
This is the end of the story quest. The balrog will remain here in the deepest places of Moria for many, many years, until a certain Gandalf the Grey seeks to lead his company through the mines.
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